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Spring game only a partial preview because of injuries

Jayson Sparks is tackled by several defensive players during action at the UT Orange and White Spring Game on Saturday, April 16, 2016. (MICHAEL PATRICK/NEWS SENTINEL)(Photo: MICHAEL PATRICK/NEWS SENTINEL)

Fans are allowed to on the field before the UT Orange and White Spring Game Saturday, April 16, 2016 to get one autograph per fan. (MICHAEL PATRICK/NEWS SENTINEL) (Photo: Michael Patrick)

There wasn't much that occurred Saturday that made Tennessee look like the SEC East favorite and preseason top 15 team it is likely to be when the season begins.

The team UT fans saw Saturday bore very little resemblance to the one they saw win the Outback Bowl in January and the one they will see in the season opener against Appalachian State on Sept. 3.

The Vols' injury-decimated roster played a truncated scrimmage in front of an announced crowd of 67,027 at Neyland Stadium in the Orange and White Game, the third largest crowd in the spring game's history.

The Orange team — in this case, the defense — was a 70-63 winner over the White team — the offense — based on the ad hoc scoring system coach Butch Jones developed because the Vols didn't have enough healthy bodies to make two complete teams.

Every gain or loss of four yards was worth one point to either the offense or defense. Every 'Big Play,' meaning a sack, tackle for loss or offensive gain of 16 yards or more, was worth three points. Turnovers were worth seven points for the defense. One-on-one situational drills — including the Circle of Life drill — were worth one point.

In Jones' mind, the miracle of the game was that it happened. The fact that the Vols could even hold an Orange and White Game on Saturday with the number of players rendered unavailable, he said, was a testament to the progress of the program headed into the fourth year of his tenure.

'The major difference is we had 24 players out in the spring,' Jones said. 'In years past, we would have had to cancel the spring game. A lot of those were preexisting injuries from the fall. We held individuals out that maybe could have possibly played, but we didn't want to risk anything.'

As a result, most of the players that justify the high expectations for the Vols were either limited or out in Saturday's scrimmage.

All-SEC defensive end Derek Barnett missed the entire spring and All-SEC linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin has been out since suffering an injury in the first week of spring practice. The defensive line and the wide receiving corps were both working with skeleton crews.

Star running backs Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara are both healthy, but to ensure they stay that way, the Vols limited their touches. They combined for 13 rushes and two receptions.

The passing game was particularly hamstrung thanks to a slew of recent injuries which took wide receivers Josh Smith, Jauan Jennings and Vincent Perry off the field. The Vols were already missing returning starter Josh Malone, who missed the entire spring. Tennessee played Saturday's game with just three scholarship wide receivers — Preston Williams, Jeff George and seldom-used Cody Blanc.

Considering all of those injuries, Jones was pleased with what the Vols accomplished.

Starting quarterback Joshua Dobbs completed 5 of 9 passes for 116 yards, hitting tight end Ethan Wolf for a 57-yard pass early in the scrimmage.

Backup Quinten Dormady completed 10 of 15 passes for 95 yards and connected with George on a 5-yard jump ball for a touchdown.

Dobbs was intercepted by safety Todd Kelly Jr. on a ball that went off the body of tight end Jason Croom.

Williams, who was named the most improved offensive player of the spring, caught three passes for 77 yards, including a 39-yarder in the second half.

'They were challenged in terms of the injuries at that position and being set back,' Jones said. '... I thought we threw the ball fairly well today.'

The Vols had less impressive numbers running the ball because contact was limited on carries by Hurd and Kamara. They were ruled down whenever they were grabbed by a defender and were not allowed to be tackled. The rushing attack, which was the strength of the offense last season, was held to just 119 yards on 48 carries.

Still, sophomore John Kelly, the third-stringer, was impressive, rushing for 65 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries.

'He doesn't go down,' Dormady said. 'That was shown today. I think he's going to be a huge asset to this team.'

Despite the injuries to its key players, the defense didn't appear to miss as much of a step. Linebacker Quart'e Sapp, who had his reps increase with Reeves-Maybin out, recorded a team-high nine tackles, including one for loss.

The Vols recorded five sacks and 12 tackles for loss. Defensive ends Corey Vereen, Darrell Taylor and Charles Folger each recorded sacks, as did linebacker Colton Jumper and nickel back Marquill Osborne. Vereen and linebacker Gavin Bryant each had two tackles for loss.

With the spring game over, the Vols have from now until August to get healthy to produce a team that can match the expectations.

'We have a long way to go,' Jones said. 'The next three months are going to be extremely critical in the development of this football team.'